About

Who is Mohammad Mehdi Rabbani?

Dr. Rabbani grew up in a cultured, book-loving family. Both his parents were teachers, and in their home books took the place of toys. The child who made his own magazines and books out of paper and glue became, years later, the publisher and editor-in-chief of one of Iran's leading entrepreneurship magazines.

Going to state schools and travelling by public transport brought him close to people's real needs. He sees that connection with society as one of the turning points of his life.

In the market from 19: university and work, side by side

As he started university, Dr. Rabbani also started work, visiting pharmacies as a sales rep for books and medicines. The first months brought no results, but instead of giving up he learned to sell properly: he read books, listened to audio programmes and paid his own way to seminars.

Growth came quickly. While still a student he became financially independent and opened his own office. He later earned a degree in civil engineering, completed a master's and a doctorate in management, and moved toward his real interests: marketing, management, sales and strategy.

His belief is simple: today's world needs people who are both academics and have done business on the market floor, because only someone who has lived practical knowledge can teach it.

Khalaghiat Magazine: starting in a car park

During his master's degree, Dr. Rabbani and three colleagues launched Khalaghiat (Creativity) Magazine from a car park, with no starting capital. He had seen a big gap: the publications of the day were either purely theoretical or settled for shallow motivational content, and offered no answers to real business challenges.

Today Dr. Rabbani is the magazine's licence holder and editor-in-chief, and Khalaghiat has become one of Iran's best-known media outlets for entrepreneurship and management.

Negah-e Novin Publishing and the story of The Compound Effect

After the magazine he turned to books, believing that deep and lasting knowledge is found in books. Negah-e Novin Publishing (owner of the “Self-Made Millionaires” brand) was founded with that view.

Among its titles, Darren Hardy's The Compound Effect holds a special place. Neither the author nor the book was known in Iran. Dr. Rabbani trusted the idea and began selling it himself at seminars. The response was so strong that the book went through many printings, reached the top of Iran's personal-development bestseller lists and sold more than half a million copies.

In the book's foreword he also shared part of his own story, and that foreword introduced many readers to his name and ideas.

Diamond, Tino and Vidone: building businesses from ideas

Dr. Rabbani builds his businesses on one constant principle: start small, think big.

• Diamond: a knowledge-based herbal pharmaceutical company that began in a single room at a science and technology park and took about four years to obtain the licence for its first medicine. Today it is one of the well-known brands in its field.
• Tino: a knowledge-based company that develops startups and early-stage businesses.
• Vidone: a video-based learning platform (short for “learn with video” in Persian) that translates, localises and publishes top international courses and courses by leading Iranian instructors. Its standard from the start has been quality, not quantity.
• Palmeano and Tabiat Sabz Botia Pars: natural food products.
• Sun Construction Group and Asna Trading: examples of his experience in construction and commerce.
• coachh.ir: a coaching platform for entrepreneurs and managers.

Dr. Rabbani as a business coach

Dr. Rabbani has been the personal coach of dozens of Iran's leading entrepreneurs and holds a number of international coaching contracts. He works as business coach to Seylaneh Sabz Holding (since 2021), Shako Holding (since 2022) and Jahad Nasr Kerman Holding (since 2022). He has also been brand advisor to Jiring (Hamrah-e Aval) and to #780* (Tehran Internet), and investment advisor to the Ramsar Governorate.

In his coaching, every engagement begins with understanding the client's goals and values and continues through to practical execution.

Education and learning at leading institutions worldwide

A thirst for learning is the backbone of Dr. Rabbani's professional character. He has trained, in person or online, at these institutions and programmes:

• Coaching: the Co-Active Training Institute (CTI) and Jack Canfield's coach training
• Strategy and leadership: Laureate University (Spain), Cass Business School (London) and Harvard University's leadership programme
• Export management and trainer training: WIFI Austria (several Train-the-Trainer programmes in leadership, entrepreneurship and export)
• Business and brand development: Steinbeis University Berlin and the University of Zurich
• Renowned teachers: Brian Tracy (strategic planning), Tony Buzan (mind mapping), Allan Pease (body language), John Demartini (values), Jonah Berger (sales, Wharton)

He is also a senior lecturer at the German Export Academy in Baden-Württemberg and holds its teaching licence.

Honours and endorsements

• Winner of the Creative Iran National Award (2012)
• Expert guest on more than a hundred live radio and TV programmes
• Speaker and trainer at more than a hundred conferences and workshops in Iran, the UAE, Qatar, Germany and Austria
• Endorsements from Professor Donald McDonald (Cranfield University) and Professor Richard Mayer
• Translator of four bestselling books on coaching and business

Brian Tracy has written that Mohammad Mehdi's passion for learning and for teaching others is admirable.

Dr. Rabbani's philosophy: real wealth is freedom of time

For years Dr. Rabbani thought success meant working more. Experience taught him that success is not about effort alone; it is effort in the right direction. In his view, real wealth is not money or fame but freedom of time: being able to choose what you spend your life on.

That view led him into online business. Today many of his businesses run online, and his mission is to help others reach their goals.